Delta Air Lines is to suspend its route from London Heathrow to Philadelphia from Thursday 3 May 2018.

The route launched in April 2015 with the benefit of a pair of slots that American Airlines was required to relinquish as part of its merger with US Airways. It is understood that Delta should now have permanent rights to this slot pair.

It is not currently known what route Delta will operate instead. Bearing in mind that Virgin has also permanently suspended Chicago this latest route suspension does suggest that Delta and Virgin struggle on routes where rival alliances have higher frequencies.

Now that Delta has suspended London Heathrow – Philadelphia, this route will be operated exclusively by Oneworld alliance members and joint-venture American Airlines and British Airways.

Affected Delta passengers should have the option of being accommodated on alternative Delta and Virgin Atlantic services via gateways such as New York JFK.

Update January 2018:

An earlier version of this article stated that this route was suspended from Saturday 24 March 2018. This article has been updated as it has since emerged that flights will operate until Thursday 3 May 2018.